King of the Anglo Saxons

Sons of Kings #4

by Millie Thom

Following Guthrum’s crushing defeat at Edington, Alfred's kingdom is enjoying a rare period of peace. Alfred is ageing. Bouts of his old illness are increasingly frequent, and he prays that his final years will be free of Viking raids, allowing him to concentrate on expanding his kingdom’s boundaries and improving its standard of learning. Scholars are summoned from near and far, amongst them a certain Welsh abbot named Asser.
Ongoing peace is no certainty, however, and Alfred continues to improve his defences. An attack on Rochester proves that Wessex is still far from safe… whilst also confirming the effectiveness of Alfred’s newly fortified towns and mobile armies.
But would they be enough to withstand another invasion like Ivar and Halfdan’s… or Guthrum’s?
The arrival of a huge Norse army puts those defences to the test. Its devious leader does not give up easily and the conflict becomes a trial of will and wits between him and Alfred’s staunch ealdormen, one of whom is Eadwulf’s son, Aethelred.
While Aethelred pursues his role as Lord of the Mercians, Eadwulf settles back in Aros with Freydis. Old friendships are rekindled, new ones are formed, and a situation in al-Andalus takes Eadwulf, Bjorn and their comrades on another dangerous quest across the sea.
But will this new life be enough to stop Eadwulf missing his children and friends back in Mercia…?

283 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 22, 2020

About the author

Millie Thom is a former geography and history teacher with a degree in geology and a particular passion for the Anglo Saxon and Viking era. She was born in Southport, Lancashire, in 1947, and happily admits to being a 'boomer'.

After completing a teacher training course in Liverpool in 1968, she moved to Yorkshire to take up her first teaching post. This was at a secondary school in a small mining village, where most of the children - and more than a few of the staff - spoke in a dialect riddled with 'thees', 'thous', 'hast thas' and wilt thas'. She also met her husband to be at this time, a teacher at a rival school - the rivalry always being in the not-so-gentle sport of rugby!

In 1970 Millie and her husband moved down to Wantage for six years. Wantage is known a King Alfred's town, since it is the place where he was born. In 1976 she moved up to Nottinghamshire, and still lives there with her husband, midway between Lincoln and Newark. Their six grown up children all live close by.

Since retiring from teaching, Millie has been writing the trilogy about King Alfred that has been screaming to be born for so many years. Book 1, 'Shadow of the Raven' is already published on Amazon, and Book 2, 'Pit of Vipers' is presently nearing completion.

Reviews

[Dave Wickenden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last installment of the Sons of Kings series and I must admit, I’m going to miss this story line. Book four has the twelve years of relative peace come to an end as the Danes once again set their sights on the rich plunder of England. But in that time, King Alfred has been busy preparing for such a time.

Reading any of Thom’s books is like stepping back into the mist of time. You can hear the cries of the wounded and the clash of sword on shields. Meticulously researched, the story of England’s birth is told in a fast-paced thrilling tale. Fans of Vikings or The Last Kingdom would fall in love with this winning representation of the formation of an Empire.

[Sherrie Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Sons of Kings series by Millie Thom and this final book brings it to a satisfactory conclusion.

It tells of the ongoing connection between King Alfred of Wessex and the fictional Eadwulf of Mercia. How she expertly weaves factual characters with fictional I don't know but it is so well done and comes over so naturally.

I love a book with a map and this one has 4 at the beginning! I think it gives the reader a sense of place. I was also interested to learn how place names have evolved into what we know them as today.

Alfred's passions were to defend his kingdom from the Danish attacks of which there were many and also to encourage the learning of his people for which he brought in many scholars, one of whom was Bishop Asser who went on to write King Alfred's biography, The Life of King Alfred. Alfred also felt that Lundenburh didn't have enough bridges when he was fighting off the Danes and set about designing one, possibly London Bridge?

There are beautiful pieces of imagery within the writing, the imaginative descriptions of the countryside, skies and sunsets, one that particularly sticks in my mind is the October sunset. Beautiful. The skill of a good writer.

A short piece I also found particularly interesting was towards the end about The Alfred Jewel which was an ornate impliment to aid reading and fitted onto a manuscript and could be moved up and down to point to the right section. Ms Thom's research is as always impeccable.

Alfred came across as a fair and just king, a man you could warm to, as were his family. They all came right off the page as very real people just as we might know today. This series has given me an interest in a period of history I previously knew little about. Having enjoyed this series and also Millie's flash fiction collection, A Dash of Flash, I'm looking forward to seeing her next work.

[Brian Kitchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last in Millie Thom's excellent 'Sons of Kings' series. I have read all the books in this series and enjoyed them all. Millie has obviously done a great deal of research into the period and has brought it alive for the reader. I particularly enjoyed that the period was portrayed both from the Anglo Saxon and Danish perspective and that the two main characters Alfred and Eadwulf, were believable. The final book has brought the series to a satisfactory conclusion and is a book I can highly recommend to anyone with an interest in the period.

[Latty Tesoro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, what can I say about King of the Anglo Saxons. Reading Book 4 reminded me of jelly filled powdered donuts I loved as a kid. Its simplicity to the eye is one thing, compared to the first bite and not to mentioned the middle where all the deliciousness prevails.

I'm beyond ecstatic that I was correct in my assumption about a better union between Wessex and Mercia in the images of Aethelflaed and Aethelred and my how they both grew in book 4 and I'm extremely proud of the man Aethelred came to be.

And just when I thought Book 4 was just the conclusion of Alfred and Eadwulf’s life along with other beloved characters, Millie surprised me with Hastein, who eventually became despicable and yet the perfect antagonist. Speaking of beloved characters just as in Book 3 I cried for Leif, he wasn't as frequent but he had became a favorite since Book 1 and I salute the old steerman.

I'm not one to fully commit myself to a book series because I'm often at times left disappointed and thought what a waste of time, but Sons of Kings was a fulfilling treat to my heart and it's truly been years since I've invested this much in Historical Fiction.

The story of King Alfred is nothing new amongst historical fiction readers but the Sons of Kings series was adequately done. You had a strong balance of gore, adventure, romance, action, thriller, humor, cliffhangers, religion, and DRAMA!!! And let us not forget about the characters for each of them added something vibrating to the story no matter how small their role.

I could honestly ramble on about what I enjoyed about the story but to simply put it, King of the Anglo Saxons was a befitting end to what I describe as a stunning series. I honestly didn't realise I was at the very last chapter of the book with Alfred's death and I shed a tear for the blunt little boy I met back in Book 1 who grew into a king worth fighting for.

And you know what, it's so rare to get an ending you want as a reader and I wanna thank Millie for giving me such an end to a spectacular novel.

[Diane Therrien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Millie Thom once again delivers an unforgettable historical tale in King of the Anglo-Saxons (Sons of Kings #4). As the fourth book I’ve read by this incredibly talented author, I continue to be amazed by her ability to transport readers into the heart of early medieval England.
Set between 883 and 899 AD, the novel follows the formidable King Alfred as he takes on the near-impossible task of halting the relentless Danish raids on Wessex and Mercia. Thom masterfully brings to life not only Alfred’s struggles but also the deep personal moments he shares with his wife, Ealhswith, as she endures the heartbreaking loss of a child born six weeks premature.
What sets Millie Thom’s storytelling apart is her meticulous attention to detail. Every aspect of life in the 9th century—from daily habits and customs to the thoughts and fears of its people—is so vividly described that you truly feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. Her writing transforms history into an immersive experience, making this book a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction.
Bravo to Millie Thom for yet another masterpiece!

[Alfredo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good saga is like a great river. Starts furious and quick, has to sort out cascades, tortuos cannons and terrible difficulties, be embalsed; goes deep, goes shallow, has panoramic and beautiful views, sings like angels and demons and reach maturity in wide courses until a peaceful join with the sea. In this fourth book we see the children and grandchildren of Eadwulf and Alfred, we see them consolidate as great kings and leaders, great parents, going to places they never though they would be and having very, very mixed families: saxons, danes, moors, all (most) loving brothers and cousins. The journey is not without difficulties but I end the book really missing the beloved protagonists. I really, really loved this saga.

The first three books were given to me for free by Booktasters but I decided to actually buy this one.

[Hafsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear God, where do i start from? I am sad that this is the last installment of the Sons of Kings series. This is why it took me long to finish. I didnt want it to end, so I delayed my reading pattern but it still finished anyway....lol.

I was never a historical reader but Millie has managed to make me fall in love with historical stories. She has magically created a world where i can escape and visualise, its like i personally know this characters, I felt like I was right there with them. I could feel their emotions, their excitements, pain, fear, rage and happiness.

All Millie's books are tremendously explored and the fact that she followed two completely different points of view, Anglo Saxon (King Alfred of Wessex-and the ongoing passion to defend his kingdom) and the Danish (Eadwukf of Mercia) is commendable to say the least.

Millie writes beautifully, straight from the heart, the conclusion of this series is very pleasing and satisfying, I was also very happy to catch up with the old characters, it was a remarkable experience for me. I wish I can give Millie more than 5 stars.

I truly recommend this book to everyone. I am still hoping that one day soon someone out there will purchase the rights for Millie's trilogy and turn it into a movie series. I mean where are all the movie directors and producers? Where is Shonda Rhimes, Peter Jackson and Mark Mylod?

Anyway lastly, I just want to drop a note for Millie:

Dear Millie, you deserve nothing but the absolute best, please keep writing and sharing your beautiful gift with the world. Your books and style of writing spreads happiness to your readers. May God bless you and you family always.

Love always your No.1 fan
Hafsa.

[Chris Maddix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I confess, I approached the final in Millie Thom’s Sons of Kings books with trepidation. A door has been opened to me for the past couple of weeks into the ninth century in England and Denmark, and it’s been a remarkable experience. It causes a bit of mental stress to conjure up anything comparable. In the past few years, I had the opportunity to attend the wedding of a distant German relative; I suppose that’s the closest. As was the case with that trip, Ms. Thom’s series immersed me in a different culture and provided me the chance to become familiar, then comfortable, then finally attached to it. As a self-professed historian, I was surprised how many gaps these tales filled. It’s a great series and has my highest recommendation.
This series has followed Alfred, later referred to as “the Great”, King of Wessex who becomes anointed King of the Saxons in this book. It has also followed Eadwulf, son of a Mercian king who is captured by Danes and who offers a friendlier perspective of Vikings than is usually encountered. In the beginning of this book, Alfred, still the youthful king, has accommodated some of the trappings of royalty and is somewhat taken aback when his plan to educate the kingdom is temporarily stymied by the refusal of a priest named Asser to participate. Meanwhile, Eadwulf, who earlier discovered that his thought-dead father was actually captured, sold, and relocated to Andalusia, in southern Spain, returns from his home in Denmark to the Iberian Peninsula to help his adopted brother Hamid, who was also from Spain, kill the hated new Emir. Both Alfred and Eadwulf experience considerable development in this book. Both add greatly to their extended families, Eadwulf by marrying his long-time love, the Danish Freydis, but both by the accumulation of children, wives of their children, and grandchildren. Alfred’s kingship is constantly occupied. He fends off numerous attacks while fortifying the major cities in his kingdom, constructing a navy to contend with the marauding Danes, developing a relationship with the neighboring Welsh, identifying the need for bridges throughout the kingdom, hiring Eadwulf’s son, the very capable Athelred, to defend Mercia, and making major strides in enhancing education throughout the kingdom. Alfred’s final major foe is Hastein, former husband of Freydis (the same Freydis who marries Eadwulf), and probably the wisest and most capable Dane the Anglo-Saxons have faced. At this point in his career, however, Alfred has so developed his defenses, techniques and strategies that he dispatches Hastein with less trouble than it took to defeat previous enemies.
Try to imagine Mel Gibson doing an extended version of Braveheart, such that it consumes four separate movies. This series accomplishes the equivalent. I have trouble imagining a reader NOT further researching English history. I know I will. Take a look at this series. I challenge you to pick up any of them and put it down before you finish. Good luck.

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘An uneasy silence fell over the Winchester Hall.’

In 883, five years after Guthrum’s crushing defeat at Edington, Alfred’s kingdom is enjoying a rare period of peace. Alfred is ageing, and bouts of his chronic illness are becoming more frequent. Alfred would like to see continuing peace from Viking raids so that he can improve his kingdom’s standard of learning. He summons scholars to the kingdom, including Asser, a welsh monk. But peace is not assured, and an attack on Rochester proves that more work will need to be undertaken to further improve the kingdom’s defences.

This, the fourth and final novel in the ‘Sons of Kings’ series continues the connection between King Alfred of Wessex and the fictional Eadwulf of Mercia. The fiction is woven around the facts, the maps at the beginning show the areas involved in the novel, and the list of characters helped me immensely.

There is plenty of action in the novel: the arrival of a Norse army tests the Wessex defences, Eadwulf settles back in Aros with Freydis and then travels (with Bjorn and others) to al-Andalus. Alfred’s children grow older, Asser contributes to the education of the kingdom. And Alfred himself steps out of the shadows of history.

Ms Thom brings her characters to life. While I especially enjoyed that part of the story set in al-Andalus, it was Ms Thom’s depiction of Alfred, of the struggles between the Anglo Saxons and the Norse which held my attention.

I finished the novel, sad to leave the characters behind, but with a better appreciation of the period in which they lived.

Thank you, Ms Thom, for this series. I started the first book almost six years ago and have been eagerly awaiting this instalment since 2018.

Note: My thanks to the author for providing me with a free electronic copy of this novel for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Zea Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

King of the Anglo-Saxons by Millie Thom
A Book Review by AZ Perez
November 2023

Leaders and People in this generation have many things to learn and treasure from this book!

In this tale, the last instalment of the series SONS OF KINGS: KING OF THE ANGLO-SAXONS, the threads of this complicated saga are beautifully tied into a tidy knot. King Alfred was a fortified ruler: wise, peace-loving, compassionate, and cherished by his kin and people. His focus was educating his kingdom. He himself was an example of an avid, relentless learner. One of his daughters became an archimandrite! This and other sub-interesting tales concerning the fate of the characters are to be read and enjoyed in this book.

Eadwulf had turned into a man of wisdom and a seasoned ruler of Mercia. He has aged well like a fine wine fermented by the bittersweet challenges he went through in life.

Alfred and Eadwulf embodied the true rulers representing their people!

The Danish raids and pillages towards the Anglo-Saxon lands had mellowed down as new the generation of its kin blossomed and had witnessed the worst consequences it had brought to their own families. more to the people they had plundered. And so, learning from that experience had no inclination of doing the same thing. Worth mentioning as well is the contrasting embodiment and stance of a peace-loving and compassionate King Alfred even to his treacherous enemies!

Leaders and People in this generation have many things to learn from King Alfred and the saga of the survival of his people and kingdom!

Overall, my fervent hope is to see this epic tale series on a wide screen! I know it will be a costly project, but one worth the precious life lessons it shall impart to a broader audience!

Praise to the SONS OF KINGS series! Praise to author Millie Thom!

[Maureen Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Millie Thom has done it again ... The King of the Anglo Saxons is a corker of a book. Having already devoured the first three books in this series I embarked on this final one, eager to know the culmination of King Alfred's battle to free his Kingdom from the raiding Danes. It was good to catch up with all the old characters introduced earlier and also to meet new younger, characters in Alfred's story.
There are so many that Ms Thom's idea to list them all at the beginning of the book was most helpful, Not least because lots of names began with 'Aeth'. Aethelnoth, Aethelflaed, Aethelgifu ... you get the idea.
By the end of this book, I now have a reasonable understanding just why Alfred has gone down in history as 'Alfred The Great'. His reign must have been one of the most turbulent periods in English history but he persevered in trying to rid his realm of Wessex of the murderous Danes. It was a lifelong struggle for him and he suffered many bouts of illness that saw him regularly take to his bed. However he never gave up and surrounding himself with trusted Ealdormen, he eventually bought peace to his people. There were times when I could cheerfully have shaken him when time after time he trusted the Danes to hold to their surrender terms only to be disappointed when they rose up against him once more. I knew that he was a very religious man but I did not know that he surrounded himself with learned clergymen who helped him to translate many religious texts from Latin into Saxon English.

I thank Ms Thom for not only providing me with an entertaining read but also for educating me in this exciting period of my country's history. What a great series this was. A very well deserved FIVE STARS.

[Lindsay Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read of Millie Thom’s Sons of Kings series, although it is the last of the series! Perhaps not the most sensible approach on my part but I loved the book, nonetheless. I enjoy all things Anglo-Saxon, so was drawn to see how the author brought the heroic King Alfred to life. Each age reinterprets Alfred, and he also knew how to portray himself, so it is no easy matter.

The author deftly creates a believable character who tussles with leadership in times of brutal invasion of his kingdom, his Christian piety, and development of a program of intellectual advancement for himself and his people. Often these pursuits and passions create fascinating tensions in the story. I was left with compassion for a king wearied by troubles, including his own ill health, but not succumbing to failure. Instead, Alfred forms the foundations on which his dynasty and England were built. The other characters are all well-rounded.

Millie Thom clearly knows the period, and her story is enriched by details and nuances, large and small, of Anglo-Saxon life and beliefs. I loved the way the story is told by weaving together both sides of the conflict – Anglo-Saxon and Viking. The author writes beautifully; at times forcefully, at other times, laced with delicate and subtle descriptions of relationships, the countryside and weather.

I thoroughly recommend this book, and look forward to reading the others in the series.

[H.M. Holten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Analysing A Great King

Being in power is never simple. Staying in power is even harder. Peace is difficult to keep, especially when there are Vikings thumping at the door to your realm.

Alfred must be vigilant and must spend most of his life to build a movable defence that will hold off the attacks. He still spends his free time on improving his and his people’s education.

In Denmark, Eadwulf takes up old and makes new friendships. His son is in Mercia and through his marriage part of Alfred’s close family.

In Spain, unrest, and oppression looms.

This widely distributed canvas takes life in Millie Thom’s capable hands. Her research is as immaculate as always and that is a great bonus. Her vision takes us from Mercia and Denmark to hot and spicy al-Andalus; her characters are well-known to the reader. Also, they spring off the pages and convince you of their existence. That doesn’t only go for the historical individuals but as much for those of Ms Thom’s invention. The tetralogy works as a whole, giving the reader a vibrant picture of long-forgotten times and people.

[Patricia Furstenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect ending to a beloved historical fiction series about a less know time.

What I enjoy about Millie Thom's writing is the way she weaves together history with fiction.

Like the other books from this series, King of the Anglo Saxons (Sons of Kings Book 4) is very well researched, yet Millie Thom's fantastic writing style pulls you in, transporting you into a world all the way at the end of the first millennium.
Her books are the perfect mix of political plots , emotions and battle scenes, but also dreamy descriptions.
Apart from portraying the period so well, the author does so following two completely different points of view, that of the Anglo Saxon and the Danish (and their leaders, King Alfred of Wessex and Eadwulf of Mercia.)

An added bonus are the maps at the beginning of the book.

This part of British history is little known, so picking this book series will be a wonderful way to learn about it (like why Alfred of Wessex has gone down in history as Alfred The Great), while enjoying some top story telling.

[John Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all four books in the Sons of Kings series and find them all equally enthralling. I sincerely congratulate Millie Thom as an amazing author. Her style and phraseology is, for me, truly envious. Each book is highly descriptive with richly drawn characters who captivate throughout this epic tale. There were plenty of intriguing moments of suspense which held my undivided attention. I found the descriptions of the settings, situations and people stunningly realistic, which again left me marvelling at the author's talent just as much as the story line itself.
I highly recommend Sons of Kings as a stimulating read and suggest that if there was a six star rating these books would all be there. I highly recommended the Sons of Kings series.

[Yolisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hail King Alfred!
Since he was a young boy,he knew that his day as King would come,but he had not envisaged how long and successful his reign would be. Plagued by an illness that creeps on him and render him useless for a number of days. He wouldn't allow anything put him down,failures,mistakes,sickness were surmountable.
Hastein,the Dane proved to be a formidable nemesis,but he underestimated Alfred's witty strategic mind. Because of that oversight,he almost lost everything,again.
Millie outdid herself,everything about the book is just amazing. Her imagery puts you in the lands yourself and you get to live in that era.

[Zahira Uddin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. It was a page turner - a compelling read.
It centres around King Alfred and his immediate family from the mid 880s until his death. King Alfred is portrayed as compassionate, just and intellectual. He is also a great warrior, which he needed to be in order to face the Viking onslaught. All these qualities, rare in one individual earn, him the title of the Great.
It will appeal to people who have an interest in Vikings, the times that Alfred lived in. The author is a good storyteller, and each scene is set at a roaring pace.

[Mike Corbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadly come to the end of this four book series which has been both compelling captivating and so well written by the author Millie Thom.The last book King of the Anglo Saxons cleverly ties together all the characters of the last three books and leaves the reader wanting for more and hoping Millie will write another book about the Saxons and Dane’s
I can only highly recommend these four books which have given me so much pleasure with the wealth of information within the story lines and Oh what a fabulous film this would make

[Maria do Socorro Baptista · Rating 5 out of 5]

The end of Alfred's saga fulfills all my expectations as an avid reader. I enjoyed reading the last book so much as I loved reading the first three. I know that I will miss the heroic adventures, the beautiful love stories, and the great achievements of this king whose tenacity and intelligence earned him the nickname of The Great. A great book, a great series. If I were still a professor of literature I would certainly include this series in the reading list for my students.

[Charissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Millie has maps at the beginning showing the reader where events take place. Also, she has a couple of pages of the characters and who they are.

Not only do we continue to see how Alfred does battle with the Vikings, but also, we see how he continues to improve his tactics.

The reader gets to know a little bit about Alfred’s children and their lives.

Eadwulf’s family grows and he goes on interesting adventures.

The book brings everyone’s lives together in a wonderful way.

[Lisette Kristensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series! Highly recommend the series to fans of Vikings and Alfred the Great.

[james hollingsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book

Page turner, you feel as if you know the characters. Am sad that the entire series has come to an end